Vietnam veterans Ned Panuzzo and Roger Hurrey hope a new generation will learn about Australia’s time in the Vietnam War, when they speak at the Whittlesea library next week.
The Whittlesea RSL sub-branch members will share their experiences of war with the community at a special presentation on Monday, April 16, ahead of Anzac Day.
For Mr Panuzzo, who is the sub-branch president, the talk is a chance to educate more people about the war.
“There are generations since [the war] who don’t know about it. Then, there are other people who don’t take notice, or had the wrong idea,” he said.
“We were just 20-year-olds who were called up to National Service. We were told we had to go. We didn’t volunteer. We just did our job.”
Mr Panuzzo served in Vietnam from 1967-1968.
He was initially assigned to the reinforcement wing and was sent to Nui Dat.
Soon after, the was called on to join the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group in Vung Tau, serving as a driver.
Mr Panuzzo said while it was important to commemorate Australia’s involvement in the war, it was a “dreadful” time.
“It was terrible. At the time, we thought we were doing a good job,” he said.
“It’s a dreadful thing … war is dreadful.”
Mr Panuzzo and Mr Hurrey will speak at the library at 57 Laurel Street, Whittlesea, from 2-3pm.
The Whittlesea RSL sub-branch will mark Anzac Day with a service at the Soldier and Arch Memorial and a march from Church Street at 2.30pm.
